The #7 Middlebury women's ice hockey team outlasted ninth-ranked Colby 3-2 in the opening game of the series. The teams will face off again in the Jack Kelley Rink on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The Panthers got out to a quick start, but Cat Appleyard's one-timer after a faceoff just 25 seconds in was denied by Colby netminder Paige Bolyard.
• The Mules looked to open the scoring with 14:13 elapsed when Madi Aumann redirected an initial shot by Audrey Shirer, but Aumann's bid from the right pipe trickled just wide right.
• Middlebury made it 1-0 with 16:24 showing on the clock. Eva Hendrikson sent a slap shot toward the goal from just inside the blue line that Jordan Hower tipped into the net.
• Colby had a power play in the waning minutes of the period, but the Panthers held strong during a flurry of shots. Sophia Will made a sprawling save during the span and Sabrina Kim blocked an attempt to kill off the penalty.
• The Mules broke through with just 1.6 ticks left on the clock when McKinley Karpa lifted the puck from the right circle over the far shoulder of Will to make it 1-1. 
• Colby wasted little time out of the intermission, scoring 1:18 into the middle frame. Meg Rittenhouse grabbed a loose puck at center ice and skated two-on-one toward the Middlebury goal before sending the puck top shelf for the 2-1 advantage.
• The Panthers had a chance to tie the game with 3:46 expired during a power play. Kim sent a pass to Raia Schluter on the right pipe, but Schluter's attempt from point-blank range was stopped by Bolyard.
• Middlebury found the equalizer at the 9:18 mark during a power play. Kim slid the puck across the top of the circles from right to left to Claudia Vira. Bolyard attempted to stop Vira's hard shot, but the force was too much to handle, slipping into the goal to make it 2-2.
• The Panthers looked to regain the lead just two minutes later with an extra skater. Vira's attempt was denied by Bolyard this time, but the puck rebounded out into traffic, sending Bolyard sprawling to try and cover it up. Maddie Bayard was on the right pipe and dove to try and sneak the puck into the goal, but Bolyard's pad was there to deny the chance.
• Middlebury took a 3-2 edge with 14:38 elapsed. Britt Nawrocki beat a pair of Colby defenders and eluded Bolyard for her team-leading eighth tally of the season. 
• The Mules pulled their goalie with 1:32 left in regulation and had five quality bids to try and knot the game. Will was phenomenal in goal, stopping a trio of chances, while Kim blocked a pair of shots as the Panthers hung on for the 3-2 triumph.

NOTES

• Tonight's win was the 50th victory for Middlebury in the all-time series with Colby (50-12-0). 
• Hower's goal was her first of the season.